Weigh system for transfer car

ABSTRACT

A transfer car for transporting containers of molten metal which includes a support frame mounted for receiving a container of molten metal and is supported on weigh cells mounted on spaced apart trucks at each end of the support frame. The support frame is vertical relative to the weigh cells but horizontal movement of the frame relative to the trucks is prevented by vertically deflectable connecting arms which also resist vertical movement.

United States Patent 1191 1 1] 3,858,672 Mrozek et al. 1 Jan. 7, 1975 [5 WEIGH SYSTEM FOR TRANSFER CAR 3,299,976 1/1967 Boad le et al 177/255 X Inventors: J W. Mmzek; Bernd Albers 3,587,760 6/1971 Puhrrnger et al. 177/209 X both of New Castle, Pa. l Przmary Examiner-Ge0rge l-l. Mlller, Jr. Asslgnee? Pennsylvama Eflgmeermg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fred Wiviott Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa. [22] Filed: Dec. 26, 1973 57 ABSTRACT PP bio-14281017 A transfer car for transporting containers of molten metal which includes a support frame mounted for re- [52 us. or. 177/136, 177/255 Ceiving a Container of molten metal and is Supported [51] Int. Cl. G0lg 19/08, GOlg 23/06 Weigh Cells mounted Spaced apart trucks at each [58] Field of Search 177/136, 141, 146,209, end of the Support frame- The Support frame is verti' 177/255 cal relative to the weigh cells but horizontal movement of the frame relative to the trucks is prevented [56] References Cited by vertically deflectable connecting arms which also UNITED STATES PATENTS resist vertical movement. 3,137,359 6/1964 Hobe 177/136 17 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 WEIGH SYSTEM FOR TRANSFER CAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the steel making and other metal processing industries, transfer cars are often used for transporting containers of molten metal between various locations. In addition, it is often desirable to determine the weight of the molten metal within the container. For example, in various steel making processes, a charge of molten metal is often utilized along with a charge of scrap and other additives. The molten metal, scrap and additive materials are generally charged in predetermined weight proportions in order to obtain a final produce having a desired composition.

Conventional transfer car weighing systems generally include a car frame which is mounted on trucks or wheel axle assemblies and a separate weigh frame which rests on weigh cells carried by the car frame. The weigh frame receives a container of molten metal or other material whose weight is determined by the weigh cells. Since a typical load to be transported by such transfer cars may be in the order of several hundred tons, the weigh frame and car frame of a conventional transfer car are generally quite massive since both frames must be individually capable of supporting the weight of the filled container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved weigh system for transfer cars.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transfer car having a weigh system which permits the use of a single supportive framework. I

How the foregoing and other more specific objects of the invention are achieved will be set forth in the more detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In general terms, the invention comprises a transfer car having an integral weigh system in which a single supportive framework is vertically movably mounted on weigh cells and is substantially horizontally fixed relative to the weigh cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a transfer car incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the weighing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the weighing apparatus of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 show a transfer car incorporating the instant invention and which supports a conventional ladle 11. The transfer car 10 generally includes a support frame 13 formed of a plurality of structural steel shapes. Frame 13 is mounted on a plurality of truck assemblies 14 each of which are respectively connected to the comers of frame 13 by means of weighing assemblies 15 according to the invention as will be described more fully below.

A pivot frame 16 may be pivotally mounted on the support frame 13 on pins 17 extending horizontally from each side of the pivot frame 16 and joumaled in bearings 18 mounted on support frame 13. Frame 16 may be pivoted in any conventional manner such as by a pair of fluid actuated cylinders 19 which may be mounted on each side of the support frame 13 by laterally extending trunnion pins 20 which are suitably received in bearings 21. The cylinders 19 may each have extensible shafts 21 pivotally connected to pins 23 attached to the pivot frame 16 so that when the cylinders 19 are extended, the frame 16 and ladle 11 will pivot about the horizontal pivot pins 17 for discharging the contents of container 11 through an attached pouring spout 23. The pivot frame 16 is merely shown for illustrative purposes and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the container 11 could be supported directly on the support frame 13 for transport on the transfer car 10 and removed for pouring by a conventional hoist, not shown.

The truck assemblies 14 are conventional and as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, may each include a pair of wheels 25 supportable on rails 26 and joumaled for rotation within a housing 27. A drive assembly 28 may be mounted on each housing 27 for driving one or both wheels 25 of each truck assembly 14 in a conventional manner. Each of the truck assemblies 14 has a pivot pin 29 extending laterally from each of its opposite sides for being joumaled in its associated weighing assembly 15. This pivotal connection prevents development of significant bending movements between the weighing assemblies 15 and truck assemblies 14 and results in a more equal weight distribution.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the weighing assemblies 15, which connect each of the truck assemblies 14 to the support frame 13, are coupled in pairs at each end of the frame 13 by a spacer beam 30. The weighing assemblies 15 may be identical and, accordingly, only one will be discussed in detail for the sake of brevity. In general, each weighing assembly 15 includes a load cell support assembly 32, a load cell 33 and a deflecting arm 34. Load cell support assembly 32 may include a load cell housing 35 which may be of a generally boxlike hollow construction for enclosing the load cell 33. The load cell housing 35 is pivotally coupled to the truck housing 27 by means of a pair of integral downwardly extending bracket portions 41 which are provided with suitable apertures 42 which receive the pivot pin 29. It will be appreciated that pin 29 may be held in position in any suitable manner such as by means of a pivot pin key 44 which is suitably secured to the face of bracket portions 41 and adjacent aperture 42.

The load cell 33 may be of any conventional construction well known in the art and, for example, may include a load element 45 mounted on the housing 35 and a pressure plate 46 which is mounted on support frame 13 and which bears against the load element 45. For example, the load element 45 may have a radially extending flange 48 at its lower end for being suitably affixed such as by bolts 49 to a bottom base plate 51 which is in turn suitably secured to housing 35 such as by bolts 52. Similarly the load plate 46 may be suitably secured to frame 13 in vertical alignment with load element 45 in any suitable manner such as nuts 55 and bolts 56. A suitable ball bearing 57 may be provided between the load cell 45 and the load plate 46 to facilitate relative longitudinal motion therebetween without side loading on the load element 45.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while a particular type of load cell has been illustrated, any commercially available load cell may be employed. For example, the load element 45 may be of the bonded wire strain gage type wherein the electrical resistance of a wire element changes as a function of the weight applied to a carrier member to which it is attached.

The deflecting arm assembly 32 includes a trailing arm portion 60 and a diaphragm plate 62. The trailing arm is generally wedge-shaped and has its large cross sectional end 63 suitably affixed to one side of the load cell housing 35 while its small cross sectional end is affixed to one edge of the generally horizontally extending diaphragm plate 62. In order to transmit the driving forces from the truck assembly 14, the opposite edge of the diaphragm plate 62 is suitably connected to the frame 13. For example, this connection may comprise a generally vertically extending plate 65 affixed to and extending downwardly from the lower end of frame 13 and a laterally extending flange 66 integral with the opposite edge of diaphragm plate 62 and which may be suitably affixed to plate 65 such as by bolts 67 and nuts 68. This connection between the frame 13 and the truck assemblies .14 serves to locate the trucks and their respective drives relative to the support frame 13 and to transmit the driving forces therebetween without interfering or disturbing the load cell 35.

The diaphragm plate 62 may be provided with generally arcuate in cross section and longitudinally extending parallel grooves formed in its opposite faces to reduce its thickness thereat and facilitate deflection thereof. As a result, this permits limited relative vertical movement between frame 13 and load cell housing 35 but provides a relatively rigid horizontal coupling to permit the transmission of driving forces and fixes the relative horizontal positions between the truck assemblies l4 and frame 13.

When a load is placed on frame 13, relative vertical movement occurs between the frame 13 and the truck assemblies 14 due to flexing of the diaphragm plates 62 which provide a constant resistive force to such vertical movement. This resistive force can be factored into the load cell circuitry so that the weight measurements are not affected.

A plurality of shear blocks or dowels 73 may be located around the periphery of flange 66 at assembly to plate 65 of frame 13 to insure precise alignment of diaphragm plate 62 when connected to said frame. The shear blocks 73 are imbedded in holes, not shown, in plate 65 and abut the edges of flange 66 to maintain proper position of diaphragm 62.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, a check rod 78 may be provided at each end of the transfer car 10 to prevent lateral horizontal motion of frame 13 relative to the weighing asemblies 15. The check rods 78 are of conventional construction and may be attached at one end to a bracket 79 extending downwardly from the bottom of frame 13 and the other end to a bracket 80 attached to the adapter assembly 15. The rods 78 extend in a generally horizontal transverse direction to effectively resist lateral horizontal motion of the frame 13 relative to assemblies 15. The check rods 78 are also preferably relatively easily deflectable in the vertical direction to permit limited vertical movement between the frame 13 and assemblies 15 when a laod is placed on the transfer car 10. Such check rods are well known in the art and need not be described in further detail.

To prevent the adapter assemblies l5 from falling away from the frame 13 in the event that the transfer 10 is lifted or jacked, a check bolt is provided between ech assembly 15 and frame 13 as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Each check bolt 75 extends vertically through an aperture, not shown, formed in a flange 76 affixed to frame 13 and also extends through an aperture, not shown, in an axially aligned flange 77 attached to the adjacent adapter assembly 15. The bolt 75 is secured between the flanges 76 and 77 by a nut 78. The nut 78 is threaded onto the bolt 75 and cottered in place by a conventional cotter pin, not shown, such that the bolt is about one-eighth inch loose between the flanges 76 and 77. Thus, the bolt 75 exerts no load on the weigh cell 40 but does limit the maximum vertical movement of frame 13 upwardly away from adapter assemblies 15.

The weigh system may first be calibrated in a conventional manner prior to actual use. It will be appreciated that when a container, such as teeming ladle 11, is placed on the pivot frame 16, the weight is distributed to the load cells 33. The weight indicated by the individual load cells 33 provide an indication of the total weight of the ladle 11 and its contents.

While a single embodiment of the invention has thus been described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other variations may be possible without departing from the inventive concept. For example, although diaphragm plates 62 are preferred for connecting pivot arms 60 to frame 13 due to the accuracy in allowing the deflective forces to be tared out of the weigh system, other means such as a pivot pin connection could be employed. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be taken solely by an interpretation of the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for supporting said container,

a plurality of spaced apart rolle'r means, at least one weighing means mounted on each of said roller means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, frame means being mounted on said weighing means,

a plurality of coupling means for coupling said frame means to said roller means, said coupling means being generally flexible in a generally vertical direction and relatively non-flexible in a generally horizontal direction for preventing horizontal translation between said roller means and said frame means while transmitting the weight of said frame means and the container supported thereon at least partially to said weighing means.

2. The transfer means set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means mounted on said roller means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporting means, said coupling means including a plurality of arm means and a flexible element connected to each arm means, one of said arm means and flexible elements extending generally horizontally between said frame means and each of said support means.

3. The transfer means set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a first plurality of flexible elements for preventing translation in a first horizontal direction and a second plurality of flexible elements for preventing translation in second horizontal direction.

4. The transport means set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport means includes a plurality of spaced apart truck means,

each of said weighing means including a support portion mounted on one of said truck means and weight responsive means mounted on said support portion, said frame means being vertically supported on said weight responsive means, and

said coupling means connecting said support portion to said frame means for preventing substantial horizontal translation therebetween.

5. The transfer means set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means mounted on said transport means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporting means, said coupling means including a plurality of flexible elements, one of said flexible elements extending generally horizontally between said frame means and each of said support means.

6. The transfer means set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means mounted on said transport means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporting means.

7. Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for receiving said container,

a plurality of spaced apart weighing means supporting said frame means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein,

a first plurality of flexible diaphragm means coupled to said frame means and said transport means for preventing horizontal translation in a first horizontal direction and a second plurality of flexible elements coupled to said frame means and said transport means for preventing horizontal translation in a second horizontal direction, said flexible elements transmitting the weight of said frame means at least partially to said weighing means.

8. The transfer means set forth in claim 7 wherein said second plurality of means comprises check rod means. supporting 9. The transfer means set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporiting means, each of said supporting means being mounted on said transport means, each of said diaphragm means being connected between one of said supporting means and said frame means.

10. The transfer means set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said diaphragm means extends generally horizontally and includes a flexible diaphragm plate portion and an arm portion affixed to said plate portion.

11. The transfer means set forth in claim 10 wherein said diaphragm means has an area of reduced thickness to facilitate the flexing thereof.

12. Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for receiving said container,

a plurality of spaced apart weighing means supporting said frame means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, said frame means being substantially horizontally fixed relative to each of said weighing means and vertically 6 translatable relative thereto to transmit at least a portion of the weight of said container to said weighing means, and

transport means including a plurality of spaced apart truck means,

each of said weighing means including a support portion mounted on one of said truck means and weight responsive means mounted on said support portion, said frame means being vertically supported on said weight responsive means, and

connecting means for connecting said support portion to said frame means for preventing substantial horizontal translation therebetween and including diaphragm means connecting said support portion to said frame means and extending in a first horizontal direction and elongate means connecting said housing means to said frame means and extending in a second horizontal direction, said diaphragm means and said elongate means being vertically deflectible to permit limited vertical motion of said frame means relative to said housing means.

13. The transfer car set forth in claim -12 including:

beam means connecting laterally adjacent support portions for maintaining the spacing of said truck means.

14. The transfer car set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said elongate means and said diaphragm means which provide a substantially constant resistance to vertical deflection whereby said resistive forces may be tared out of said weigh cell means.

15. A transfer car for transporting a container of molten metal, said transfer car having an integral weigh system for determining the weight of said molten metal, said transfer car comprising:

a frame for receiving said container,

a plurality of spaced apart truck means supporting said frame for movement in a first direction,

a plurality of weigh cell means, one of said weigh cell means being interposed between said frame and each of said truck means for measuring the weight of said molten metal, and

a plurality of vertically flexible members, one of said members connecting said frame to each of said truck means for permitting vertical motion of said frame relative to said truck means to transfer at least a part of the'weight of said frame, said members being relatively inflexible in a horizontal direction for restricting horizontal motion of said frame relative to said truck means.

16. A transfer car for transporting a container of molten metal, said transfer car having an integral weigh system for determining the weight of said molten metal, said transfer car comprising:

a frame for receiving said container,

a plurality of truck means supporting said frame for movement in a first direction,

a pluralityv of weigh cell means, one of said weigh cell means being interposed between said frame and each of said truck means for measuring the weight of said molten metal, and

means connecting said frame to each of said truck means for restricting horizontal motion of said frame relative to said truck means and for permitting vertical motion of said frame relative to said truck means,

said connecting means comprise vertically flexible diaphragm means coupling each of said truck means to said frame in said first direction and vertically deflectible check rods coupling said truck tion having an area of reduced thickness extending generally transversely to said first direction, whereby said diaphragm means may flex vertically about said area.

m? rqwTT f mi H n Hr?? 1 2,11 1 if: 1 P; l J11 LOillL-fhb i D Patent No. 3 ,858,67.'. Dated Januarv 7 1975 Inventor(s) John W, Mrozek et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

CLaim 1, column 4, line 43, before "ire-me insert saicl--.

Claim 2, column 4, line ---supporting.

Claim 4, column 5, line 62, cancel "support" and substitute 1, cancel "transport" and substitute line 2, cancel "transport" and substitute --roller---.

Claim 5 column 5 line 14 cancel "transport" and substitute roller---;

line 19, cancel "support" and substitute -----supporting--.

Claim 7 column 5 line after "therein," insert transport means to supporting said weighing means-.

Claim 8 column 5 line 41 cancel "su r ortin.

Claim 9 column 5 line 44 cancel "support-"' and substitute -----support---.

Claim 12 column 6 line 14 cancel "housing means" and substitute --support portion-;

line 18, cancel "housing means" and substitute support portion--.

Claim 14, column 6, line 26, cancel "cell" and substitute -respsonsive--.

Signed and Scaled this twenty-sixth Day Of August 1975 [SEAL] A Itest.

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN (mnmissl'nncr 0f Parents and Trademarks Q Patent No. 3 ,8

Dated Januarv 7 1975 2 In ventor(s) John W, Mrozek et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent Q and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

CLaim 1, column. 4, line 43 before "frame" insert ---said-.

Claim 2, column 4, line 62, cancel "support" and substitute --supporting-.

Claim 4, column 5, line 1, cancel "transport" and substitute -transfer---;

line 2, cancel "transport" and substitute ---rolle.r-.

Claim 5 column 5 line 14 cancel "transport" and substitute ----roller----;

line 19, cancel "support" and substitute --supporting---.

Claim 7 column 5 line 29 after "therein," insert f Q --transport means for supporting said weighing means.

Claim 8 column 5 line 41, cancel "supporting" l I Claim 9 column 5 line 44 cancel "stz.pport"' and substitute support-. E 0

Claim l2 column 6 line 14 cancel "housing means and substitute -support portion--; f

line 18 cancel "housing means" and substitute -support portion-. Q5

Plaim l4 column 6 line 26 cancel "cell and substitute --respsonsive-. i

Engned and Scaled thls Q twenty-szxth Day of August 1975 [SEAL] i l Arrest:

a RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN A! 10 I'Ilg ()ffiv Commissioner nflalenm and Tradvmurks 

1. Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for supporting said container, a plurality of spaced apart roller means, at least one weighing means mounted on each of said roller means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, frame means being mounted on said weighing means, a plurality of coupling means for coupling said frame means to said roller means, said coupling means being generally flexible in a generally vertical direction and relatively non-flexible in a generally horizontal direction for preventing horizontal translation between said roller means and said frame means while transmitting the weight of said frame means and the container supported thereon at least partially to said weighing means.
 2. The transfer means set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means mounted on said roller means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporting means, said coupling means including a plurality of arm means and a flexible element connected to each arm means, one of said arm means and flexible elements extending generally horizontally between said frame means and each of said support means.
 3. The transfer means set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a first plurality of flexible elements for preventing translation in a first horizontal direction and a second plurality of flexible elements for preventing translation in second horizontal direction.
 4. The transport means set forth in claim 1 wherein said transport means includes a plurality of spaced apart truck means, each of said weighing means including a support portion mounted on one of said truck means and weight responsive means mounted on said support portion, said frame means being vertically supported on said weight responsive means, and said coupling means connecting said support portion to said frame means for preventing substantial horizontal translation therebetween.
 5. The transfer means set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means mounted on said transport means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporting means, said coupling means including a plurality of flexible elements, one of said flexible elements extending generally horizontally between said frame means and each of said support means.
 6. The transfer means set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means mounted on said transport means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporting means.
 7. Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for receiving said container, a plurality of spaced apart weighing means supporting said frame means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, a first plurality of flexible diaphragm means coupled to said frame means and said transport means for preventing horizontal translation in a first horizontal direction and a second plurality of flexible elements coupled to said frame means and said transport means for preventing horizontal translation in a second horizontal direction, said flexible elements transmitting The weight of said frame means at least partially to said weighing means.
 8. The transfer means set forth in claim 7 wherein said second plurality of means comprises check rod means. supporting
 9. The transfer means set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said weighing means includes supporting means and weight responsive means disposed on said supporiting means, each of said supporting means being mounted on said transport means, each of said diaphragm means being connected between one of said supporting means and said frame means.
 10. The transfer means set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said diaphragm means extends generally horizontally and includes a flexible diaphragm plate portion and an arm portion affixed to said plate portion.
 11. The transfer means set forth in claim 10 wherein said diaphragm means has an area of reduced thickness to facilitate the flexing thereof.
 12. Transfer means for supporting and transporting a container of material and including frame means for receiving said container, a plurality of spaced apart weighing means supporting said frame means for measuring the weight of said container and the material therein, said frame means being substantially horizontally fixed relative to each of said weighing means and vertically translatable relative thereto to transmit at least a portion of the weight of said container to said weighing means, and transport means including a plurality of spaced apart truck means, each of said weighing means including a support portion mounted on one of said truck means and weight responsive means mounted on said support portion, said frame means being vertically supported on said weight responsive means, and connecting means for connecting said support portion to said frame means for preventing substantial horizontal translation therebetween and including diaphragm means connecting said support portion to said frame means and extending in a first horizontal direction and elongate means connecting said housing means to said frame means and extending in a second horizontal direction, said diaphragm means and said elongate means being vertically deflectible to permit limited vertical motion of said frame means relative to said housing means.
 13. The transfer car set forth in claim 12 including: beam means connecting laterally adjacent support portions for maintaining the spacing of said truck means.
 14. The transfer car set forth in claim 13 wherein: said elongate means and said diaphragm means which provide a substantially constant resistance to vertical deflection whereby said resistive forces may be tared out of said weigh cell means.
 15. A transfer car for transporting a container of molten metal, said transfer car having an integral weigh system for determining the weight of said molten metal, said transfer car comprising: a frame for receiving said container, a plurality of spaced apart truck means supporting said frame for movement in a first direction, a plurality of weigh cell means, one of said weigh cell means being interposed between said frame and each of said truck means for measuring the weight of said molten metal, and a plurality of vertically flexible members, one of said members connecting said frame to each of said truck means for permitting vertical motion of said frame relative to said truck means to transfer at least a part of the weight of said frame, said members being relatively inflexible in a horizontal direction for restricting horizontal motion of said frame relative to said truck means.
 16. A transfer car for transporting a container of molten metal, said transfer car having an integral weigh system for determining the weight of said molten metal, said transfer car comprising: a frame for receiving said container, a plurality of truck means supporting said frame for movement in a first direction, a plurality of weigh cell means, one of said weigh cell means being interposed betWeen said frame and each of said truck means for measuring the weight of said molten metal, and means connecting said frame to each of said truck means for restricting horizontal motion of said frame relative to said truck means and for permitting vertical motion of said frame relative to said truck means, said connecting means comprise vertically flexible diaphragm means coupling each of said truck means to said frame in said first direction and vertically deflectible check rods coupling said truck means to said frame in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction.
 17. The transfer car set forth in claim 16 wherein: said diaphragm means each includes an arm portion and a diaphragm plate portion and each extends generally horizontally, said diaphragm plate portion having an area of reduced thickness extending generally transversely to said first direction, whereby said diaphragm means may flex vertically about said area. 